Tying School Improvement to School Accountability: A Review of the School Effectiveness and Assistance Pilot Study, Phase III (SEAP-III).

Meza, James, Jr.; Teddlie, Charles; Stringfield, Sam

This paper summarizes activities associated with school-improvement projects in 12 Louisiana School Effectiveness and Assistance Pilot Study (SEAP) Cohort One schools during school year 1997-98 and plans for future improvement activities in 1998-99. Faculty and administrators at each school were asked to revise their current school-improvement plans, drawing on recommendations from Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) reports based on SEAP-II findings from 1996-97 and needs assessments obtained from faculties as part of the SEAP-II process. Two state educational representatives were assigned to assist each school. The 12 Cohort One improvement projects were undertaken in 1997-98, with varying degrees of success. Tentative plans for improvement efforts in Cohort One and Cohort Two schools in 1998-99 and future years are discussed, along with their twofold purpose: "front loading" instructional improvement and building capacity to support comprehensive reform. Verbal reports and written responses to questionnaires indicated there was a sizeable effect of SEAP-II assessments on three schools seeking considerable assistance from LDE and regional service centers. The SEAP-II assessment had some effect in two schools also desiring such assistance, but had little effect in two other schools not desiring assistance. Included are an abstract and 18 tables. (Contains 35 references.) (MLH)